SEWAGE SLUDGE MANAGEMENT
1. HOUSEHOLDERS
A. I need to empty my septic tank, what should I do?
Septic tanks should be pumped when sludge and scum accumulation
exceed 30% of the tank volume or are encroaching on the inlet and
outlet baffle entrances. Periodic pumping of septic tanks is
recommended to ensure proper system performance and reduce the
risk of hydraulic failure. Septic tanks should be de-sludged at a
minimum of once every year, in cases where the septic tank is at, or
near, its design load capacity, de-sludging should be more often if the
rate of sludge building-up required more frequent removal.
Accumulated sludge and scum material found in the tank should be
removed by an appropriately permitted contractor in accordance with
the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2001. (see
table below for some exceptions to the requirement to hold such a
permit).
The local authority have a list of permitted contractors in the area. The
permitted contractor will arrange for the disposal of the sludge in
accordance with the national legislations via either disposal to
agriculture or disposal to a managed wastewater treatment municipal
facility. Householders should obtain a certificate from the permitted
contractor each time their tank is de-sludged.
2. CONTRACTORS/FARMERS/SLUDGE REMOVERS
A. What permits/authorisations do I require to empty septic
tanks/waste water treatment systems?

Firstly, you must hold a Waste Collection Permit issued by the
Local Authority, or from 1st February 2012 by the National
Waste Collection Permit Office (nwcpo@offalycoco.ie), under
the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2001 to
transport off site any waste, including sewage sludge from septic
tanks or treatment systems. See table below for a list of
scenarios where such permits are/are not required.

Disposal/Recycling of the sludge material will then either be by:
1.
2.
landspreading it in accordance with the legislation
detailed in item 1) below, or
bringing it to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Licensed Wastewater Treatment Plant which accepts this
material. Such facilities located in Kildare are listed in
item 2) below.
1). Sludge from a septic tank or a sewage treatment system that
is intended to be directly landspread should be managed in
accordance with the Waste Management (Use of Sewage
Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations, 1998 and its amendment
Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture)
(Amendment) Regulations, 2001. These regulations allow for
the landspreading of untreated sewage sludge on grass land
and on tillage land once it is worked into the land, provided that
certain criteria are met and that it is carried out in accordance
with the Nutrient Management Plan for the lands in question.
Such Nutrient Management Plans must be submitted to the
Local Authority for approval prior to any landspreading taking
place and must also comply with the European Communities
(Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters)
Regulations 2010.
2). Alternatively, sewage sludge can be brought to approved
Waste Water Treatment Plants. In Kildare there are 3
Wastewater Treatment Plants that will accept sewage sludge;
Athy WWTP, Leixlip WWTP and Osberstown WWTP.
Contractors should contact the Treatment Plant beforehand to
confirm acceptance and arrange delivery.
B. Can a farmer empty a septic tank for a neighbour, and spread it on
his land?
No. The collection of wastes by any person or business for the purpose
of profit, reward or otherwise in the course of business requires a
waste collection permit under the Waste Management (Collection
Permit) Regulations, 2001. From the 1st February 2012, Offaly County
Council are the Nominated Authority of the processing of all new Waste
Collection Permit applications and review applications. The National
Waste Collection Permit Office can be contacted on 057-9357428 or
nwcpo@offalycoco.ie. Farmers and farm contractors fall within the
scope of this definition, and householders should always check in
advance that the contractors they use have the required permits.
The following table is a summary of the various scenarios that may
arise, and whether a collection permit is required in each scenario.
Please note that in addition to whether a Collection Permit is required,
or not, the relevant legislation regarding landspreading (Waste
Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations,
1998, as amended in 2001 and European Communities (Good
Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) 2010) must also be
complied with.
Scenario
Farmer collecting waste on his own
land, and spreading it on his own land,
including outlying lands in the same
tenure.
Contractor spreading waste for a
farmer, on the farm on which the
waste arose, including outlying lands
in the same tenure.
Contractor collecting waste from a
farm and transporting it for disposal or
recovery on another premises.
Farmer collecting waste not owned by
him or her, and transporting it for
recovery or disposal on another
premises.
Collection
Permit
Requirement?
No permit
required.
No permit
required.
Permit required.
Permit required.
Contractor collecting septic tank
Permit required.
sludge for recovery or disposal off site.
Farmer transporting wastes or
excavation spoil for recovery off site.
Permit required.
Contractor collecting wastes from an
Integrated Pollution Control (IPC)licensed facility, and spreading on his Permit required.
or her own, or licensee-owned, or
independently owned, spread lands.
Farmer collecting wastes from an IPC
facility and spreading it on his or her
Permit required.
own land.
Relevant Section
in Collection
Permit
Regulations
Gathered, sorted or
mixed on the
premises where it
arose.
Gathered, sorted or
mixed on the
premises where it
arose.
Section 34:
Collection for the
purpose of reward.
Section 34:
Collection for the
purpose of reward.
Section 34:
Collection for the
purpose of reward.
Section 34:
Collection for the
purpose of reward.
Section 34:
Collection for the
purpose of reward.
Section 34:
Collection for the
purpose of reward.
C. What are the main requirements in the legislation governing the
management of septic tank/treatment systems sewage sludge?
i. Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 No. 2 of 2012
This Act amends specific Sections the Water Services Act 2007 and also
has sections on the following:
 the requirement to register domestic waste water treatment
systems.
 the duties of owners of premises connected to domestic waste
water treatment systems,
 the inspection process,
 the appointment of inspectors,
 the register of inspectors,
 the powers of inspectors,
 the inspection process,
 the supervision of the Agency of Water Services Authorities,
 the direction to inspectors,
 the National Inspection Plan,
 Regulations, and
 Offences and penalties
ii. Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 Domestic Waste Water
Treatment Systems (Registration) Regulations 2012, SI No. 220 of
2012
This legislation details the requirement to Register domestic waste water
treatment systems, including
 the prescribed date by which this must be done (1st February
2013),
 the registration fee (€5 before 28th September 2012, and €50
thereafter),
 the means of application (to the relevant water services authority
in writing, or electronically via www.protectourwater.ie),
 information required in the application (name of owner,
correspondence address of owner, address of treatment
system),
 method of payment (in writing- by cheque, bank draft, postal
order or credit/debit card, or also by cash when fee is being paid
in person to the water services authority, or finally by credit/debit
card when fee is being paid via the internet)
iii. Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012 (Commencement) Order
2012, SI No. 219 of 2012
This legislation gives effect to the Act, and appoints 26th June 2012, as
the commencement date
iv. Water Services Acts 2007 and 2012 (Domestic Waste Water
Treatment Systems) Regulations 2012, SI No. 223 of 2012
This legislation details information on the Operation and Maintenance of
domestic waste water treatment systems and also on de-sludging. Of
particular note are the following sections:

Section 2(1): A domestic waste water treatment system shall be
operated and maintained by its owner so that domestic waste water
or sewage effluent shall not emit, discharge, seept, leak or otherwise
escape from the system, or part thereof;

Section 2(2): Roof water or surface water run-off shall not enter a
domestic waste water treatment system

Section 2(3): The owner of a domestic waste water treatment system
shall be responsible for its maintenance and renewal and shall
ensure that its parts and components are fit for purpose, operational
where appropriate and kept in good order and repair so as to prevent
a risk to human health or the environment.

Section 3(1): A domestic waste water treatment system shall be desludged at intervals appropriate to the tank capacity and the number
of persons resident in the premises connected to it or as
recommended by the systems manufacturer.

Section 3(2): De-sludging shall be carried out by a contractor
authorised under the Waste Management (Collection Permit)
Regulations 2007 (SI No. 820 of 2007), as amended

Section 3(3): An owner shall obtain evidence of de-sludging or a
receipt from the authorised contractor each time their tank is desludged and such evidence or receipt shall be retained for a period of
five years

Section 4(4): .....the owner of a domestic waste water treatment
system may carry out de-sludging of that system and use its contents
in agriculture, subject to compliance with all relevant national
legislative requirements (see below)
v.
S.I. No. 148 of 1998- Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in
Agriculture) Regulations, 1998, as amended (S.I. No. 267 of 2001)


Septic Tank sludge is not treated sludge and therefore cannot be
used in agriculture (Article 3 (2)) unless it can be injected or
otherwise worked into the land (Article 3 (3)).
There is one exception however, as it can be applied to grassland
provided that the grassland is not grazed within 6 months following




vi.
landspreading. It cannot be directly applied to any other crops.
(Article 3 (4)).
Its use on grassland requires a Nutrient Management Plan, and also
the requirements set out in Article 4.
It does not require returns to the Local Authority for inclusion in the
Sludge Register. (Article 9)
Soil Analysis must be carried out in accordance with Articles 6 and
7(1), and specifically those set out in Parts I, II and III.
Sludge Analysis must be carried out in accordance with Article 7(2),
as detailed in Part IV. Section 6 of Part IV should be noted as it
requires that the sludge analysis be carried out within six months
after the commencement of the use of such sludge in agriculture.
Waste Management Act, 1996, as amended by Article 23 of 2007
Facility Permit Regulations:

vii.
A Waste Licence is not required for the recovery of sludge when used
in agriculture
Waste Management Act 1996-2009 and S.I. 820 of 2007-Waste
Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007:

viii.
A Waste Collection Permit is required to transport septic tank sludge Articles 32 to 36 of the Act, specifically Art 34
Other relevant legislation, guidance and codes of practice relating
to landspreading:









European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of
Waters) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 610 of 2010)
Code of Good Practice for the Use of Biosolids in Agriculture,
Department of the Environment
S.I. No. 821 of 2007: Waste Management (Facility Permit and
Registration) Regulations 2007 and amendment S.I. No. 86 of 2008
Waste Management (Registration of Sewage Sludge Facility)
Regulations 2010, S.I. No 32/2010
S.I. No. 18/1996: Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977
S.I. No 108/1978: Local Government (Water Pollution) Regulations,
1978
S.I. No. 270/1992: Local Government (Water Pollution)(Amendment)
Act, 1990
S.I. No. 271/1992: Local Government (Water Pollution) Regulations,
1992
S.I. No. 184/1996: Local Government (Water Pollution)(Amendment)
Regulations, 1996.

S.I. No. 42/1999: Local Government (Water Pollution)(Amendment)
Regulations, 1999.
Note: Kildare County Council have developed a document entitled
'Protocol for the use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture', and is available
on the Council website
(www.kildare.ie/countycouncil/Environment/Farmingandtheenvironment.
ie). It details the requirements for landspreading treated sewage sludge
(Biosolids) arising in Waste Water Treatment Plants.